Facts and myths around St Paddy’s Day

TODAY we celebrate all things Irish … and green! St. Patrick’s Day occurs annually on 17 March in observance of the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. What began as a religious feast day in the 17th century has evolved into a variety of festivals across the globe celebrating Irish culture with parades, special foods, music, dancing, and a whole lot of green.

We searched the net for some interesting facts (and some fiction) about the Irish and St Paddy’s Day.

No Drinking
St Patrick’s Day has officially been celebrated in Ireland since 1903, after a parliamentary bill made it an official public holiday. However, due to the fact that the day falls slap bang in the middle of Lent, the religious leaders at the time viewed all the St Patrick Day parties and celebrations as sinful. Authorities were concerned about excessive drinking (come on, really?!) and a law was introduced that forced pubs to close on March 17. Much to the relief of the thirsty Irish, the law was repealed in 1961 and beer flowed freely once again.

USA influences
Americans are known to do things bigger and better and OTT, and when it comes to St Patrick’s Day celebrations it’s no different. The Irish held modest celebrations on 17 March for the death of St Patrick in Ireland as far back as the 17th century, but it took some American influence and pizzazz to transform the day into the festival it is now. The world’s first recorded St Patrick’s Day parade was held in Boston in 1737. In Ireland the day continued to be marked down as one of sombre religious observance into the 20th Century, but big Irish populations in Boston, Chicago and New York transformed it into the celebration it is today.

Sssssnakes Alive!
According to the author of St Patrick of Ireland: A biography, Professor Philip Freeman, the myth about St Patrick banishing snakes from Ireland has more to do with the symbolism of driving out the old, evil, pagan ways of Ireland and bringing in the new age of Christianity. Itr is true however that not a single slithery snake can be found in Ireland today.

Sláinte
Party people will imbibe about 13 million pints of Irish Guinness worldwide on St Patrick’s Day. That is enough of the rich dark liquid to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool two and a half times. St Patrick’s Day is rated as one of the most popular drinking days across the globe.

Also, check out this delicious chocolate cake recipe with an Irish twist! 

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